Barkevious Mingo: 5 Things You Need to Know About the LSU Linebacker

It is hard to imagine a player in the 2013 NFL draft that represents as much upside as Barkevious Mingo. He has the pass-rush moves, athleticism and mentality to be a dominating 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL.

That being said, Mingo's production at Louisiana State didn't seem to mesh too well with his otherworldly athletic ability. This should sound alarm bells for teams looking for immediate production from a player many expect to go in the initial half of the first round.

Time to take a look at Mingo as he prepares to fulfill his ultimate goal and become an NFL player.

Barkevious Mingo finished second among defensive linemen in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, though it is important to note that only seven from that position participated in the drill.

His 37" vertical jump did rank sixth among front-seven players at the combine, while his broad jump ranked in the top five. This shouldn't be too surprising considering that athleticism is considered one of Mingo's biggest strengths.

Interesting Facts

Barkevious Mingo and teammate Sam Montgomery have a wager on who goes first in the upcoming draft. They put $5,000 on the line, a bet that Mingo seems destined to win at this point.

It seems the talented young pass-rusher agrees, telling Kareem Copeland of NFL.com: "I'm pretty confident in myself," Mingo said. "He's going to be coming out of some money on that one. And I get a car wash."

Oh, did I fail to mention that part of the bet has the losing guy washing his friend's car? Yes, how times have changed for NFL draft prospects throughout the years.

Not only did Mingo and Montgomery bet on the draft, they also put wagers down on performances on the field at Louisiana State (via Copeland):

Mingo claimed he's already owed a car wash from a previous bet. Montgomery said he won a $1,000 bet for most sacks during the season and $500 for most sacks in the final game.

I am so glad they didn't walk the tightrope between fun banter and breaking NCAA rules. As it is, the money mentioned in this slide will become small potatoes to both players within the next couple months.